FDA Panel Votes to Eliminate Vicodin and Percocet

Why don't we just eliminate stupid people who don't heed the warnings on the bottles of OTCs and be done with it?

as someone with chronic pain, I think the problem will be that these pure narcs are going to be schedule II, instead of schedule III if cut with acetaminophen. That means that I will have to see my MD in the office every time I want a refill. That sounds like nonsense to me.

Why don't we just eliminate stupid people who don't heed the warnings on the bottles of OTCs and be done with it?

Maybe we need a campaign to tell that public that all drugs, even OTC can be dangerous/deadly if misused.

If you read the article you'll see that the hydrocodone in vicodin isn't the problem-- it's the acetaminophen.

There's no special reason hydrocodone et al has to be packaged and taken with acetaminophen or ibuprofen, to the best of my knowledge. The problem is that acetaminophen is so prolific in combination medications that many laypeople don't realize they're even taking it or how much they've taken.

I suffer from chronic pain from fibromyalgia and have for over 20 years now. I did not take any meds for a very long time, but now rely on pain medication (hydrocodone and tramadol) to give me some quality of life besides being in bed every day all day long. I am only 38 years old and I have 2 children still at home. I have been through the wringer with doctors not wanting to give me anything because the pain was all in "my head" and feeling like I was labeled a "druggie" or worse because I was in so much pain that I could not even think straight (literally!!). If the FDA removes these drugs without some sort of replacement, those of us who are using them because we have a real reason will be left to suffer and curl up and die with our pain. No one can understand what it is like until they have been there. People can throw out alot of accusations and "words" but you just cannot truly understand until you deal with it everyday.
I truly hope that the FDA will reconsider and think of those who will be inhumanely treated if they do do away with these drugs. Pain management is necessary and real and there are truly those of us who need someone to understand and try to at least comprehend some of the pain that we face everyday!
The acetaminophen in the medication is not the problem, if you ask me anyway. It is the fact that some people just do not know what is in the drugs and need to be educated. If they do not control the OTC products, the problem still remains, whether or not they take the narcotic drugs away or not. People who cannot get the narcotics will take extreme amounts of acetaminophen, etc. to try to control their pain instead and then where will they be??